Recap: Despite no record change from previous two seasons, improvement seen in Babers’ family

Recap: Improvement seen in Babers' family

As of 3:20 p.m. on Nov. 25, Syracuse’s football season was finished. In what could certainly be defined as a whirlwind two and a half months for the Orange, Syracuse University remained ineligible for postseason football.

Non-conference mediocracy

Going into Dino Babers’ second year as head football coach, there was a lot of optimism in what was a difficult schedule on paper.

This opening season confidence was quickly squished. Former head coach Scott Shafer, now defensive coordinator for Middle Tennessee State University, returned to the Carrier Dome seeking revenge on his former employers. The game appeared to be going against Syracuse right from the get-go as the Orange gave up a safety following a botched snap. And while Syracuse at one point was up 23-16, Middle Tennessee scored 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to provide separation from Syracuse and give Shafer a win against his former team. At this point, Syracuse was 1-1 and their path toward six wins had become a lot more challenging.

An away loss the next weekend to North Carolina State was also closer than many would have expected, this time by one possession at 33-25. Syracuse had begun to garner the reputation of coming back in games late to compete. These positives would be useful as the Orange would be home the next two games

Second half struggles

But if anyone has followed Syracuse in the past few seasons, they know the team has struggled in the second half of the season. While Syracuse remained within one score against Miami (27-19) and Florida State (27-24) in consecutive games down in Florida, the Orange failed to win any of these key games away from home.

Coach Dino Babers remains positive though. Despite losing three-time captain Zaire Franklin, his linebacker partner Parris Bennett both on-field quarterback and off-field mentor Zack Mahoney and other influential players, Babers is still looking forward. With three consecutive 4-8 seasons, Babers said after the game against Boston College that the 2018 season will be one Syracuse fans will remember for a very long time.

Syracuse opens the 2018 season on Sept. 1 at Western Michigan, the first season opener away from the Carrier Dome since 2013 vs. Penn State University.